SAGA Presents Yearly Drag Show

 The “Lights Out Frights Out” drag show hosted by the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) Club on Oct. 11 had a scary good turnout. 

 Two local and popular drag queens, Cynthia Doll and Lana Luxx, presented the annual Halloween show.

  The artists did an excellent job interacting with the audience dressed in vibrant costumes and bold makeup looks.

  Before the show, SAGA provided free popcorn and glow sticks to the audience. The crowd  waved around the glow sticks as the queens performed and went out into the crowd for a more personal experience. 

  “The glow sticks represent how they [the drag performers] bring light into the LGBTQ+ community,” said SAGA President Sam Justice. 

  Out of the 10 performers, 4 of them were students at UMKC. 

  “It is hard to pick a favorite moment because I could not imagine a better show to perform at. My favorite part of the show was that this is who I have always been,” said Francesca “Frank-ee-Stein” Makuch, first-time student performer and vice president of SAGA. “I know that younger me is so proud of who I am now.”

  The drag community has been increasingly berated in the media over the past few years, and lawmakers have gone as far as banning drag shows in certain parts of Missouri. Despite these obstacles, the performers prevailed and lit up the stage. 

  “I stopped giving a f–k about what people think of me and I just started doing what I want to do… This is my drag. It’s not anyone else’s but mine,” said performer Scary Cherry.

  One of the hosts, Cynthia Doll, is a new monster on season 5 of “Dragula,” which premieres on the streaming platforms AMC+ and Shudder on Oct. 31. 

  SAGA will continue putting on drag shows every year and encourages students to reach out via Instagram if they are interested in performing. 

  Check out SAGA on Instagram to keep up with future events and drag shows. 

[email protected]